WO2018211367A1

WO2018211367A1 - Tool-loader storage unit for tool machine

Info

Publication number: WO2018211367A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/053238
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Argentin
Original assignee: Andrea Argentin
Priority date: 2017-05-15
Filing date: 2018-05-10
Publication date: 2018-11-22
Also published as: IT201700052516A1

Abstract

A tool storage unit (MC) is described for a bending press (P). The unit is easy to build and versatile, and comprises for the aim a plurality of tools (U) organized to be picked-up and mounted in a housing of a table of the press, and a tool supporting frame (30) which is - (i) vertically movable to align horizontally the frames to the housing, and - (ii) a plurality of horizontal linear guides (21) for supporting and guiding tools (U) linearly and horizontally, the guides being vertically offset.

Description

TOOL-LOADER STORAGE UNIT for TOOL MACHINE

The invention relates to a tool-loader storage unit for a tool machine, in particular for a bending press. The storage unit is designed so that the tool machine can be equipped with it either by incorporating it permanently within its own structure or by juxtaposing it next to its own structure as a detached element.

WO2016/063579, taken here as an example of the technology field of interest, discloses a tool storage unit permanently attached to a bending press machine and a related tool movement mechanism comprising two horizontal tracks 33L, 33R on which various tools 103 are placed side by side arranged in a row on horizontal bars 105. When a tool is to be withdrawn from the storage unit, a lower drive first raises a bar 105 and then lowers it under the tracks 33L, 33R making the ends thereof pass through recesses 1 17 present on the edges of the tracks 33L, 33R. Then, the bar 105 thus lowered is brought forward and at the same height of the lower table of the press, so as to be able to slide the tools sideways and horizontally on the table and mount them thereon. With the same logic the tools are moved for the upper table of the press, using however an upper drive which first raises a bar 105 of tools and then aligns it with the upper table.

EP1160024 discloses a similar tool loader in which a load-bearing bar is aligned at the bending press table by lifting it from an array of aligned and parallel bars (see figures 36 and 37).

The systems in WO2016/063579 and EP1 160024 have defects. The storage of replacement tools not only takes up a lot of space, and therefore requires an equally voluminous drive and mount, but involves two complicated, separate and independent drives, one for serving each of the two tables of the press.

The main object of the invention is to propose a variant to this state of the art.

Another object is to provide a tool storage unit of the aforementioned type that is easy to build and compact.

A tool storage unit is proposed for a bending press capable of holding a plurality of tools organized to be picked-up and mounted in a housing of a table or cross-piece of the press, comprising: - a plurality of support frames for tools, the frames being arranged on parallel planes and in a row, wherein each frame

comprises a plurality of horizontal linear guides for supporting and guiding linearly and horizontally tools, the guides being offset vertically (along a vertical direction of movement of the frame) and preferably co-planar with each other,

- an actuator device or handling means for

engaging a frame of the row,

lifting it over the row (e.g. vertically),

translating it over the row to a loading position (e.g. at the head of the row in front of all the frames of the row) to align the linear guides thereof to the table or crosspiece of the press.

Terms such as vertical and horizontal are here referred to for the storage unit as in use.

The tool storage unit comprises two or more supporting frames as defined above, spaced apart and lined up one behind the other so that the guides of different frames are parallel to each other and horizontally spaced. The two or more supporting frames are mutually arranged to form a row of lined-up frames.

Preferably the storage unit is configured so that, at the position of frame loading, the frame picked-up via the actuator device or the handling means is vertically movable to align a determined linear guide to the table or crosspiece of the press; e.g. the picked-up frame is lowered again and placed directly at the head of the row in front of all the frames in the row or remains suspended at the head of the row in front of all the frames in the row.

Preferably the actuator device or the handling means are configured to translate the picked-up and lifted frame parallelly to the direction identified by the row composed of the other frames.

The particular support frame allows storing several tools on a vertical plane (various rows of tools, unlike WO2016/063579), saving space and speeding up the mounting operation (the average path for a tool from the storage unit to the alignment position with the table is shorter) .

Said actuator device or handling means is preferably linearly movable back and forth horizontally and up/ down vertically in order to be able to withdraw a frame from the row of lined-up frames, so as to carry the withdrawn frame at a predetermined and/or loading tool position and then to take tools from it. To minimize the overall dimensions, the withdrawn frame, at the tool loading position, preferably lies in a vertical plane which is offset from the lying plane of the first frame of the row along the frame lining-up direction, or the withdrawn frame would become/ becomes the first of the row if/ when is lowered back into the row.

Preferably the actuator device or the movement means are mounted or comprise a vertical linear guide and a linear horizontal guide, each equipped with a sliding skid e.g. operated by a drive, e.g. an electric motor.

Along the vertical linear guide the actuator device or the handling means are able to move to lift a frame over the row of the other frames and/or to lower it again or to move it vertically while standing at the head of the row.

Along the horizontal linear guide the actuator device or the handling means are able to move the withdrawn frame above the row of frames.

The actuator device or the handling means act to lift a frame from the row and to align a tool of that frame to a table of the bending press when the withdrawn frame arrives at the tool loading position. The actuator device or the handling means work to lift only one frame at a time, and with it the tools supported thereon, and to bring it to the preset position in which a desired tool on the frame is horizontally aligned with the press table (and/ or with said housing). Because on the frame there are rows of tools held at different heights, by slightly varying the vertical positioning height of the frame when it is brought into the tool loading position, it is possible to align to the table of the press a different row of tools. Or the taken frame is lowered and brought back at the same height as the others in the row.

Although in general the tool storage unit can be used with the help of manual force, preferably it comprises a movable carriage for taking a tool from the guide of the displaced frame and align it with, and mount it on, a table of the press or said housing. In particular the movable carriage comprises a motorized member or slide horizontally movable on a horizontal guide comprised in the tool storage unit and/or in the front on the press. According to a preferred embodiment, the motorized member comprises a tool attachment head comprising protruding horizontal pins suitable for being inserted into corresponding holes of a tool. Preferably the two projecting horizontal pins are vertically aligned, to engage narrow tools. The movable carriage works to take a tool from any linear guide of the frame, or more preferably the movable carriage is configured for taking a tool from a linear guide of the frame that is at a predetermined height. It's the actuator device or the handling means that brings at this predetermined height the linear guide of the taken frame, so it is sufficient that the movable carriage moves only by translating horizontally from the tool storage unit towards the press and vice versa.

The structure of the actuator device or of the handling means is therefore very simplified compared to the known prior art, and the movement logic and the structure of the frames allow to store many tools in a small volume. Note the difference with WO2016/063579, wherein only one row of tools is moved at a time.

Preferably the actuator device or the movement means are structured to engage a frame through interposing or abutting parts, that is e.g. a frame comprises a portion engageable as abutment by a member of the actuator device or the handling means, the member being able to push or pull a frame upwards. As a simple but effective solution, the engageable portion of the frame is or comprises e.g. a portion projecting from the frame and said member of the actuator device or of the handling means is or comprises a gripping block or finger operated to translate the frame vertically. Said protruding portion in particular is placed at the sides of the frame and / or protrudes substantially along the direction of the width of the frame.

Preferably the tool storage unit comprises two vertical columns along which the actuator device or the handling means are vertically guided.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tool storage unit comprises, beside the loading position, a tool-guiding horizontal segment to which one of the guides for tools present in each frame can be aligned each time. The guiding segment serves to complete a translation path for a tool in order to slide it from the withdrawn frame towards its final position on the press table.

The guiding segment is preferably rotatable by 180° about a vertical axis, with the advantage of horizontally flipping the tool to mount it on a rear table of the press too.

To slide a tool from the withdrawn frame to its final position on the table, in particular the guiding segment comprises a linear guide for tools that is horizontally offset with respect to the rotation axis of the guiding segment. Thus the rotation of the guiding segment induces a horizontal displacement of the vertical axis of the rotated tool.

Preferably, the guiding segment comprises two guides for sliding tools, wherein the guides are parallel to each other, lying offset on a horizontal plane and symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis of the guiding segment. Thus a 180° rotation of the guiding segment carries one of the two guides to the position where the other was, and there is no need to rotate the guiding segment again to feed another tool on the press.

Preferably, the tool guiding segment is contained in the same vertical plane which contains the tool guides of a frame when that frame is at the loading position.

The tool storage unit is a device that can be either integrated inseparably in the structure of a bending press or a stand-alone accessory couplable to, but completely detachable from, the bending press. In particular, the tool storage unit is placed at a side of the press, with the frames parallel to the plane of the table of the press.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for managing a tool storage unit of a bending press. In particular the tool storage unit is that of the invention as defined above, in one or each of the variants thereof. The method envisages the steps of

engaging a frame of the row,

lifting it over the row,

translating it over the row up to a loading position wherein the withdrawn frame is aligned with the table or crosspiece of the press, and then the tools can be moved from the withdrawn frame to the press or vice versa.

E.g. after the translation the withdrawn frame, at the loading position, can be lowered back at the head of the row in front of all the frames of the row for aligning it to the table or crosspiece of the press. Or after the translation the withdrawn frame, at the loading position, is held suspended above the row, preferably at the head of the row in front of all the frames in the row.

By accessorizing a press with a tool storage unit according to the invention, the problem of precise and safe positional control of the press table to align, and/or keep aligned, the sliding guides for the translation of the tools to and from the press, could emerge. In fact it can accidentally happen that the table, when by program gets positioned for a tool change, moves slightly, e.g. for a yield or malfunction of its hydraulic actuators.

A particular and optional aspect of the invention solves this problem by equipping the press with a locking device to make a non-permanent mechanical constraint between the table and the fixed frame of the press in correspondence of the desired alignment position. The locking device and/or the constraint is configured to lock into position - and guarantee the position of - the press table during the loading/unloading operation of the tools from the table, while is removed during pressing.

The locking device can be implemented in many ways.

E.g. a mechanical abutment or matching part can be placed on the table, and on the press frame a movable member can be placed to engage or not the mechanical abutment or matching part.

E.g. the mechanical abutment or matching part can be a bush or a flange, even a hole.

E.g. the movable member can be a pin moving back and forth for engaging or not the bush or the flange.

Preferably, the movable member has a bevel or a tapering in a portion of it intended to engage the movable member, for the purpose of disengaging from the mechanical abutment or matching part in case the press exercises accidentally a consistent force. In this way massive damage is avoided to the press structure. In addition or combination, also the mechanical abutment or matching part preferably comprises a bevel or a dimpling to allow the locking mechanism to be reversible in case there are any (accidental) movements of the crosspiece (so as to prevent any damage to the bending press) .

The position of the mechanical abutment or matching part can be exchanged with that of the movable member.

Preferably the actuator of the movable member is controlled electronically, by managing a hydraulic unit.

The crosspiece locking device can also be obtained with electric motors or manual mechanisms. Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of a particular embodiment, illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

— fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a tool storage unit at rest;

— fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the tool storage unit with a raised frame;

— fig. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the tool storage unit with a raised and translated frame:

— fig. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of the tool storage unit with a frame moved and lowered into position for the removal of a tool;

— fig. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the tool storage unit when withdrawing the tool;

— fig. 6 shows a three-dimensional view of the tool storage unit during the movement of the tool;

— fig. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of the tool storage unit during the rotation of the tool;

— fig. 8 shows a three-dimensional view of the tool storage unit with the rotation of the tool executed;

— fig. 9 shows a three-dimensional view of a locking device with relevant zoomed view;

— fig. 10 shows a sectional view of the locking device.

In the figures same numbers indicate equal parts; and to not crowd the figures some references are not repeated.

The tool storage unit MC is a self-standing accessory couplable to the bending press (not shown) . The press routinely has a table or lower crosspiece on which a movable upper table or crosspiece is pressed vertically. Mounted on the tables are tools U which must be changed during processing and can be taken from the tool storage unit MC.

The tool storage unit MC comprises a mount supported by four vertical columns 12. On horizontal rails 10, above the columns 12, a table 14 is mounted slidable along a horizontal axis X, driven by a motor 18 when the latter turns into rotation a worm- screw 20. On the table 14 a pair of vertical guiding rods 22 are installed equally spaced. The rods 22 serve as a positioning and lifting means for a flat frame 30 belonging to a row of similar frames. In fact, various frames 30 are placed in the tool storage unit MC, inside the mount, lined-up one behind the other and parallel to each other.

According to the preferred embodiment shown, each frame 30 is formed by two vertical columns fixed to each other by a horizontal upright, so as to form a kind of frame. The vertical columns are e.g. tubes or bars. The horizontal upright as well can be e.g. a tube or a bar.

However a frame 30 is structured, the essential thing is that it comprises horizontal guides 32, mutually offset vertically and of equal length, inside which tools U are slidably hung or supported. The length of the guides 32 is e.g. substantially equal to the width of a frame 30.

The tool storage unit MC may comprise N frames 30 (N > = 2), all in a row one behind the other. As a result, the guides 32 of all the frames 30 are parallel to each other, and the guides 32 of a frame 30 lie in the same vertical plane and are spaced horizontally from the guides 32 of the other frames 30. In other words, the guides 32 and the tools U of a frame 30 are arranged in a plane which is vertical and parallel to the planes containing the guides 32 and the tools U of the adjacent frames 30.

The sides of each frame 30, e.g. at the vertical columns of the frame 30, may be slidably inserted into the rods 22.

The tool storage unit MC comprises a lifting actuator for lifting vertically, along and by a rod 22 (which has a vertical axis Z orthogonal to X), one of the frames 30, and with it the tools U carried by the frame itself.

The lifting actuator comprises an electric motor 98, mounted on the table 14, adapted to rotate an endless vertical screw (e.g. mounted inside each rod 22). The endless vertical screw is engaged in one counter-threaded block, mounted slidingly guided inside a rod 22, by which it is possible to engage a frame 30 to lift it. The engaging system of the frame 30 may also be e.g. a clamp sliding along the rod 22 or any other known gripping means.

In particular, each of the vertical rods 22 comprises a linear vertical guide which is directed towards the frames 30 (i.e. towards the other rod 22). Such guide is engageable by a corresponding guide provided on a frame 30 when the two are aligned. E.g. the vertical guide may be a straight bar and the frame guide 30 a complementary groove.

The tool storage unit MC comprises a mounting actuator (Fig. 6 and 7) to withdraw a tool U from any guide 32 and mount it by moving it on a table of the press. The mounting actuator comprises a motorized carriage 62 which can be horizontally displaced along a axis Y on a horizontal guide 64 mounted cantilevered on the press and/ or on two of the columns 12. The guide 64 is preferably fixed on the columns 12, for simplicity of construction, and is aligned to an equal guide mounted on the press.

The X, Y, Z axes form an orthogonal triad.

The tool storage unit MC comprises a movable segment 70 for guiding tools U (figures 7 and 8) . The segment 70 serves as a bridge and extension between any one of the guides 32 of the picked frame and the housings in the tables of the press to accommodate the tools U (there can also be a corresponding guide mounted on the tables). The segment 70 is rotatably mounted with respect of a vertical axis Z2, parallel to the Z axis, thanks to a drive 72 (e.g. a piston or a motor) that serves to rotate in a vertical plane the segment 70.

OPERATION

To bring a given tool U from the storage unit MC to one of the press tables, an electronic control unit or a programmed microprocessor (not shown) controls the motor 18 and moves the table 14 above the row of frames 30 to align it vertically above the frame 30 containing that tool U (fig. 1).

Then that frame 30 is lifted (fig. 2) by actuating said lifting actuator, which vertically raises along Z such frame 30 (numbered alone in fig. 2) along the rods 22 raising it above the row of the other frames. The electronic control unit or the microprocessor carries the withdrawn frame 30 at a lifting (e.g. fixed) height so that its base stays higher than the upper edge of the other frames 30.

At this point (fig. 3) the electronic control unit or the microprocessor by moving the table 14 with the motor 18 causes the raised frame 30 to translate along X up to the head of the row of frames. In fig. 3 the lifted and translated frame has arrived up to the front columns 12 so that its guides 32 protrude from them. In this position the guide 32 (of the translated frame 30) which is lower is correctly aligned with the segment 70. As a next and optional step, if a tool placed in a higher guide 32 is needed, the electronic control unit or the microprocessor causes the frame 30 translated along Z to lower as needed by driving the motor 98 (fig. 4) .

At this point, the picked-up and translated frame 30 is definitely at the correct position so that a tool U carried in it is translated along the table 64 towards the press. The electronic control unit or microprocessor (fig. 5) causes the carriage 62 to slide on the guide 64, up to the tool pick-up point. The carriage 62 picks up the tool and mounts it on the press (fig. 6) moving towards the press along Y.

As advantageous option, the tool storage unit MC can indifferently mount tools on presses that have the table equipped with a double row of tools, arranged in two parallel, horizontally offset rows and in which the tools are mounted in opposite directions (the tools of the two rows have facing "backs"). The effect is obtained with the rotating segment 70. That is to say, the tool storage unit MC makes it possible to mount tools on each of said two rows of tools.

Fig. 7 shows e.g. a tool U placed on the linear guide of the segment 70. Fig. 8 shows the same tool U after the segment 70 is rotated by 180° about the Z2 axis by activating the piston 72. The tool U results not only horizontally flipped but also constrained on a linear horizontal guide which is now slightly offset horizontally with respect to the starting position. In practice, the tool U is now on the opposite side with respect to the axis Z2 and is thus mountable on the second row of tools of the press.

By performing the previous steps in reverse order, a tool can be removed from the press and stored in tool storage unit MC.

With reference to Figures 9 and 10, a locking device 100 is shown to achieve a non-permanent mechanical constraint between the table 102 and the fixed frame 104 of the press when the table 102 is at the desired position wherein its guide 64 is aligned with that 64 of the tool storage unit MC.

On the back side of the table 102 a flange or bush 1 10 is mounted, while on the frame 104 there is mounted a movable pin 120 movable horizontally back and forth (in the example parallel to the X axis) to engage or not the cavity of the flange 1 10.

The pin 120 has the tip with a 45°-bevel 122 and the cavity of the flange 1 10 has a complementary dimpling 1 12. The coupling of the bevel 122 in the dimpling 1 12 allows the pin 1 10 to slip out of the flange 120 if the table 102 is mistakenly moved.

The pin 1 10 moves thanks to e.g. to a pneumatic or hydraulic drive 150, controlled by an electronic control unit that manages the tool storage unit MC.

Claims

1. Tool storage unit (MC) for a bending press capable of holding a plurality of tools (U) arranged to be picked up and mounted in a housing of a table or crosspiece of the press, comprising:

- a plurality of support frames (30) for tools, the frames being arranged on parallel planes and in a row, wherein each frame

comprises a plurality of horizontal linear guides (21) for supporting and guiding tools (U) linearly and horizontally, the guides being vertically offset and preferably coplanar with each other,

- an actuator device ( 18, 14, 22) for

engaging a frame of the row,

lifting it over the row,

translating it over the row up to a tool loading position to align the linear guides thereof to the table or the cross member of the press.

2. Tool storage unit (MC) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator device ( 16, 14, 22) is linearly movable back and forth horizontally and up/down vertically so as to be able to pick up a frame from the row of lined-up frames to bring the picked-up frame to a predetermined position and/ or at a tool loading position.

3. Tool storage unit (MC) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device is configured so that a frame picked up by the actuator device ( 18, 14, 22) at the tool loading position lies in a vertical plane that is offset with respect to the lying plane of the first frame of the row along the frame lining-up direction.

4. Tool storage unit (MC) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the actuator device comprises a linear vertical guide (22) and a horizontal linear guide ( 14).

5. Tool storage unit (MC) according to claim 4, wherein each linear guide (22, 14) is provided with a sliding skid driven by a drive ( 18, 98).

6. Tool storage unit (MC) according to any one of the preceding claim, comprising a movable carriage (62) for picking up a tool from a moved frame's guide and aligning it to, and mounting it on, a table of the press.

7. Tool storage unit (MC) according to claim 6, wherein the movable carriage (62) comprises a motorized carriage which is horizontally movable on a horizontal guide (64) comprised in the tool storage unit and/or in front of the press.

8. Tool storage unit (MC) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising, beside the tool loading position, a horizontal guide segment (70) for tools, to which one of the tool guides on each frame can be aligned each time, the guide segment being rotatable by 180° about a vertical axis to flip a tool horizontally.

9. Tool storage unit (MC) according to claim 8, wherein the guide segment (70) comprises two guides for sliding tools, wherein the guides are parallel to each other, lying offset on a horizontal plane and symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis of the guide segment.

10. Tool storage unit (MC) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a locking device ( 100) for making a non-permanent mechanical constrain between the table ( 102) and the fixed frame ( 104) of the press at a reciprocal desired alignment position thereof for moving tools from the unit (MC).

1 1. Tool storage unit (MC) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the actuator device is structured to engage a frame by interposing or abutting parts, or a frame comprises a portion engageable as abutment by a member of the actuator device, the member being able to push or pull upwards a frame.

12. Tool storage unit (MC) according to the previous claim, wherein the the engagable portion of the frame is or comprises a portion projecting from the frame and said member of the actuator device is or comprises a gripping block or finger operated to translate the frame vertically.

13. Method for managing a tool storage unit (MC) as defined in any one of the preceding claims, with steps of

engaging a frame in the row,

lifting it over the row,

translating it over the row up to a loading position wherein the picked-up frame is aligned with the table or crosspiece of the press.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the picked-up frame is lowered, at the loading position, at the head of the row in front of all the frames of the row to align it with the table or crosspiece of the press.

15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein after the translation the picked-up frame, at the loading position, is held suspended above the row, preferably at the head of the row in front of all the frames in the row.